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Sunday, January 4, 2026

Slow It Down: The Lyrics That Began with a Simple Question

A New Year’s Moment That Sparked a Song

The spark for Slow It Down came at the very first moment of 2026. On New Year’s Eve, just after the midnight bell had rung, I was celebrating with my husband and my youngest adult son. It was one of those quiet, joyful moments — hugs, laughter, and the soft feeling of a new year opening its arms.

In that moment, my son asked me a simple question: “So, what’s your New Year’s resolution?”

I paused. I smiled. And I answered honestly. I told him I didn’t have a resolution in the traditional sense. What I shared instead was what I now call my anti-resolution — my plan to live in every second, every minute, every hour, and every day… and to slow it down.

Saying those words out loud felt different. They landed in a way I didn’t expect.

When Words Turn into a Spark

Almost immediately after I said it, I thought to myself, “Hmm… slow it down. I think I could write lyrics about that.”
The phrase stayed with me. It lingered long after the night ended, quietly echoing in my thoughts.

Sometimes inspiration doesn’t arrive with a loud announcement. Sometimes it just waits patiently for you to notice it.

New Year’s Morning: Where the Lyrics Took Shape

The next morning — January 1st, 2026, the very first day of the year — I found myself curled up in bed, relaxed and unhurried. The world felt still. There was no rush to be anywhere, no pressure to begin immediately. Just space.

That’s when the inspiration fully arrived.

Lying there, I felt deeply compelled to put those words down before they slipped away. I let myself stay in that quiet moment, allowing the thoughts to unfold naturally. Within about an hour and a half, the lyrics to Slow It Down were written — a song born not from urgency, but from presence.

What “Slow It Down” Really Means

This song isn’t about stopping your life, abandoning your goals, or letting your dreams fade. It’s not about doing less — it’s about being more present while you do what matters to you.

Slow It Down is about how we move through our days as we create, build, work, love, and dream. It’s about enjoying the process instead of racing toward the outcome. It’s about noticing the moments that often pass too quickly — the quiet ones, the meaningful ones, the ones that shape us without us even realizing it.

Life is short. And the beauty of it doesn’t live in the finish lines — it lives in the seconds, the pauses, the reflections, and the breaths we take along the way.

An Invitation to Live Differently This Year

Slow It Down is my invitation — not just for a new year, but for any moment when life feels rushed or overwhelming. It’s a reminder that renewal doesn’t always come from doing more. Sometimes it comes from simply being where you are, fully and intentionally.

Wherever you are in your journey — whether you’re creating something new, nurturing relationships, or quietly rebuilding — I hope this song encourages you to savor the moments that make up your days.

Slow it down.
Soak it in.
Let life meet you where you are.

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50 Years of My Poems and Lyrics are on Amazon, Where Available.

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🎵 ©DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - Original Lyrics. | Licensed Digital Composition (Commercial Rights Held) for Music and Vocals

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Saturday, January 3, 2026

The Story Lyrics About Four Generations and Sticker Shock!

I wrote the lyrics to "When Crazy Was King" in the 1990s, when I was challenging myself to write story-driven songs that didn't depend on personal confessions or emotional backstories.

A Song Born from Sticker Shock and Storytelling

Even back then, in the 1990s, the cost of living felt steep, and prices were beginning to climb in ways that made everyone shake their head. That sense of disbelief across generations became the spark for the song—but my goal wasn't to write a memoir; it was to write a narrative propelled by voices, memory, and perspective.

Of course, even when we try not to write about ourselves, parts of who we are find their way in. Inflation and how each generation reacts to it became the backdrop. It's something we all feel—whether we're buying our first home, filling our gas tank, or scratching our head at the price of shoes.

The frustration is universal and sometimes humorous, and I wanted to capture it through the voices of four generations in my own family line.

So "When Crazy Was King" began as a project—but became a reflection. A wink to the past, a raised eyebrow to the present, and a nod to how little truly changes in how we feel about money and the world around us.

Four Generations, Four Perspectives, One Constant: "It Never Used to Be Like This"

Even though the song isn't about my life in a literal way, the voices I used are unmistakably familiar.

My grandfather, my mother, I, and one of my sons form the arc of the story—not to describe our lives in detail, but to highlight how each era has viewed money and progress with a mix of "wtf", disbelief, and resignation.

My grandfather's voice represents that earlier generation who really watched prices shift in a way that felt explosive. His version of shock is rooted in memory—what things cost when he was young, how far a dollar stretched, how much effort it took to "get ahead."

My mother's perspective picks up the same refrain—life could feel expensive even then, long before today's costs crept in and swallowed whole paychecks. She didn't hesitate to warn me that the world was "half gone crazy," passing along equal parts caution, encouragement, and expectation.

And then there's me, passing along that same guidance to my own son. Except by the time he enters the picture, even my jaw drops—and he's there to remind me that the world has moved again, that what seems shocking to me is merely standard to him.

Smiles, Sighs, and What We Pass Along

In the end, When Crazy Was King isn't just a song about prices or inflation—it's a story about perspective, memory, and the way each generation measures the world.

It's a reminder that what feels overwhelming or absurd today has echoes in the past, and that the voices guiding us—whether from grandparents, parents, or children—carry wisdom, humor, and a touch of disbelief.

Writing it reminded me that even as the world keeps changing, some truths remain the same: we navigate life as best we can, we pass along what we've learned, and we can still look back with both a smile and a sigh at the days when "crazy" ruled.

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50 Years of My Poems and Lyrics are on Amazon, Where Available.

SUBSCRIBE to DragedaPoemsLyrics on YouTube

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🎵 ©DragedaPoemsLyrics (B.T.C) - Original Lyrics. | Licensed Digital Composition (Commercial Rights Held) for Music and Vocals

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Friday, January 2, 2026

Chocolate Dipped or Covered Blackberries

Blackberries are one of my husband's favorite fruits. Recently, I was covering or dipping fruit in chocolate and he suggested we make Chocolate Covered Blackberries. I went along with his suggestion simply because I understand that we each have a different favorite fruit and I wanted everyone to have their favorite available. For contrast, I used White Chocolate on the Blackberries. The White Chocolate Covered Blackberries were lovely on the table and tasty addition to our variety of fruits.

As it turned out, our daughter also loved the Chocolate Covered blackberries, as did several other guests. The Chocolate Covered Blackberries were a hit and they were completely gone in no time. It seems I did not make enough Chocolate Covered Blackberries for that gathering, but I will know the next time and I will prepare for the inevitable.

Supplies and Ingredients for Chocolate Covered Blackberries

Fresh Blackberries
Chocolate for Melting ~ I prefer Saco Dolci Frutta featured below
Wax Paper

Easy Directions for Chocolate Dipped Blackberries

Step 1: Cover a cookie sheet with wax paper ~ The cookie sheet will make it easier to move your Chocolate Covered Blackberries.

Step 2: Melt Your Chocolate ~ If you use Saco Dolci Frutta, you can melt the chocolate in the microwave in their package container. Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 2 minutes on medium and stir the chocolate until it is completely melted. Other chocolates will need to be melted in a double boiler or a microwavable dish.

Step 3: Wash and Dry Your Blackberries

Step 4: Dip the Blackberries in the chocolate

Step 5: Set on wax paper to cool

Step 6: When you have dipped all of your Blackberries in chocolate, serve or eat.

Best if not refrigerated

Dolci Frutta: Chocolate or White Chocolate in Microwavable Container or Bag

Dolci Frutta White Melting Wafers, 12 ounce (Pack of 1) | Simply Microwave, Dip & Done! Always Gluten-Free and Nut-FreeCheck Price Dolci Frutta Variety Pack with Hard Chocolate Shell & White Chocolate Shell, Microwavable ContainerCheck Price

More Chocolate or Dipped Fruit for Your Platter

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This recipe article was originally published by me in 2010 on a different site that no longer exists. Unless otherwise noted with the individual photo, all Photos are mine and should not be used without written permission. © 2010 Cynthia Sylvestermouse

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Thursday, January 1, 2026

How I Changed a Behavior

Decades ago, I was a mom to a toddler. Besides the normal things to adjust to, I also had to adjust a behavior response from me. My child was doing normal child things, however one of those normal child movements stirred unsettled feelings from long ago.

My child was safe, however, I didn't want those old feelings stirring around; I pushed them down to try and get through trying to be present in the moment. It worked for a bit, but it kept happening with each witness of my child's normal behavior. I decided to try something different.

I had a guided imagery tape that I listened to, to relax my mind. The guided meditation had the listener imagine a room where the listener could feel safe. Then it had the listener imagine another scene, of something one might like to do or become.

In that second part, I intentionally imagined myself responding to my child with a calm and peaceful feeling, whenever I witnessed the behavior that was a trigger for the old feelings.

I did this on day one. I didn't really notice any difference in how I felt.

Day two was pretty much the same. The cassette tape (This was pre-internet days.) was around 25 minutes long. So I could more easily listen to it when it was nap time for my child. So once a day, was pretty much what worked for me.

I listened to it again on the third day. And the next time that I witnessed the behavior that had triggered my old feelings, they weren't there! I was calm. I felt peaceful. I did it.

It took me three days, but I would have done as many as it would take. I had used guided imagery before, that had reduced pain that I had after surgery. That had been a God send. I knew it could work. I had faith in it.

The cassette that I listened to is not available anywhere, to my knowledge. However there are other options.

One is to do a search on YouTube. I did a search for change behavior meditation and a variety of good sounding options came up.

There are also CDs on Amazon, for guided relaxation cd, that address a variety of things.

Also, the very first guided imagery tape that I had, I made myself. I played some basic piano tunes and recorded that on one tape, and played that while I read the script that I had created, while I recorded both on to another tape.

I had used a variety of books on self hypnosis, and positive self talk, to make a relaxation tape ahead of the surgery that I was scheduled for. This method can take a lot more time and effort, but it was also very nice in that I got to listen to my own voice, and I was in agreement with each and every message and affirmation that was on the cassette.

As you can see, guided imagery can be used for a variety of things. I had a friend that listened to one on pregnancy and childbirth; she did not experience any labor pains and her doctor had to tell her when to push when it was time to give birth.

You can browse a variety of self hypnosis books on Amazon, if you are interested in making something more personal to you. You know best which method and or topic(s) speak most to you.

For some added encouragement, I wrote a poem to help relay this message.

I imagined it as so.

I got over it because I imagined it as so.

Took me three times over three days for it to be true.

But I was determined, no matter how many times it took.

I was determined to make it so.

My child was worth it.

I was worth it.

To be beyond the remnants of the past.

My child deserved having me be present.

I deserved being in the present with a conscious choice of my response.

We were both worth it.

And my imagining made it so.

We were both worth it.

And my imagining made it so.

If you are dealing with anything like this, my love and blessings to you in finding the path that helps you have a healthy transition to your desired outcome. Change is possible.

Cheryl Paton

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Wednesday, December 31, 2025

Black-Eyed Peas Recipe for New Year's Day (or anytime!)

It is a tradition to eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. The fun superstition surrounding black-eyed peas on New Years is that they will bring you good luck & prosperity throughout the coming year.

History tells us that tradition is founded in Southern folklore, yet it is clearly more widespread than just the Southern states of America.

National Black-Eyed Pea Day is, of course, January 1.

Does eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day actually bring good luck? As much as I would like to say "yes", in reality, a superstition is just that and has no real basis in truth. But, it is still a fun tradition and a delicious side dish.

If you really want to embrace the tradition, aka superstition, according to my mother, you would couple the black-eyed peas with cornbread. The cornbread symbolizes gold. Somehow, I think we would all devour black-eyed peas and cornbread enthusiastically on New Years Day if it would ensure good luck and wealth throughout the year!

I can tell you from experience, black-eyed peas coupled with cornbread becomes a complete and filling meal, not just two separate side dishes.

Black-Eyed Peas Recipe

The best way to flavor black-eyed peas is with a ham bone. I save my Christmas ham bone each year just so I can use it in my New Year's Day black-eyed peas.

If you don't have a spare ham bone laying around, you can season black-eyed peas with bacon grease or 3 pieces of uncooked bacon. The bacon cooks along with the peas.

Growing up, we shelled our own black-eyed field peas. Today, I prefer using a bag of Camellia brand blackeyes. I still soak them in water overnight like I did freshly shelled peas to soften them.

Instructions for Cooking Black-Eyed Peas

Rinse and Soak the black-eyed peas overnight or for 8 hrs
Rinse the peas again after soaking
Place the ham bone (or bacon) in the center of the large (5 quart or larger) dutch oven pan and arrange the peas around it
Add Salt & Pepper
Cover the Peas with Water
Bring to a boil, then turn down to a low boil, cover the pan with a tilted lid, allowing steam to escape
Cook on low boil for 1½ hour